Oaxacan-inspired mezcal cocktail bar Little Fires to open this week in Shoreditch
A new mezcal-focused cocktail bar, Little Fires, will open its doors this Friday on Bethnal Green Road in Shoreditch. Positioning itself as the capital’s first establishment of its kind, Little Fires will offer a menu centred around mezcal-based drinks and Mexican-inspired small plates, alongside a curated music programme in a two-floor venue that includes a hi-fi listening bar. The project is the first hospitality venture from co-founders Christian Pecoraro, Florian Schulze and Horacio Sainz, who bring backgrounds in architecture, music and design. The trio describe the venue as a meeting point of mezcal, food, music and community, drawing inspiration from the culture and traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico.
The drinks menu has been developed in partnership with the team behind Sabina Sabe, a well-known bar in Oaxaca that has been featured in the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Little Fires also holds an exclusive UK partnership with spirits brand Asunción, who offer a selection of rare, small-batch mezcals. Cocktails include the Corn Colada, made with Cazcabel Añejo tequila, corn syrup, Coco Lopez, pineapple and lime juice, and the Espresso Café, a blend of Asunción Espadin mezcal, Briottet cacao liqueur, cinnamon syrup and Solo coffee concentrate. For those less inclined towards mezcal, the menu includes alternatives such as the Clarified Coffee Negroni, made with Doghouse Renegade gin, Mr Black coffee liqueur, Campari and Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino. The wine list focuses on natural and low-intervention bottles, including selections from Mexican producers and UK favourites.
The kitchen is led by Giovanni Lezzi, with input from Rodolfo Castellanos, winner of Top Chef Mexico and chef-owner of Oaxaca’s Origen. The food offering includes small plates such as Dorados de Pato (duck confit tacos with mole sauce), Brochetas de Callo Zarandeado (scallop skewers in costeño chilli adobo) and Molotes de Plátano (plantain croquettes with cheese and fish roe).
Designed by Tamsin Love, the venue features original timber floors, textured walls and handcrafted materials. “Every design choice was made to support the food and drink – bold, soulful, and rooted in tradition. We wanted guests to feel transported, like they’ve discovered a hidden corner of Mexico,” said Love.
The basement level houses a dedicated mezcal bar and DJ booth, with a sound system intended to support a rotating schedule of vinyl and CDJ sets. Genres will range from ambient and jazz to cumbia and dub, reflecting what the owners describe as a balance between tradition and innovation.
Little Fires will operate Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to midnight, with a total capacity of 100 guests (85 indoors and 15 on the outdoor terrace).
Food Desk
Little Fires opens on 25th July 2025 at 125 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG. For further information or to book a table, visit the bar’s website here.
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